The Tampa Bay Rays are going for it.
Having lost their best hitter, Wander Franco, they suddenly found themselves in need of impact hitters to make up for the lost production.
Fortunately for the Rays, they are one of the best teams in baseball at identifying and developing young talent.
That’s why, in order to bring in an impact hitter, all they needed to do is look to their minor leagues.
It might be a bold strategy since he is making the jump all the way from Double-A, but Tampa Bay is calling up top prospect Junior Caminero to the majors.
“BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up top infield prospect Junior Caminero, sources tell ESPN. Caminero, 20, will make the leap from AA, where he was hitting .309/.373/.548 with 20 HR in 314 ABs,” MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted.
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up top infield prospect Junior Caminero, sources tell ESPN. Caminero, 20, will make the leap from AA, where he was hitting .309/.373/.548 with 20 HR in 314 ABs.
News, free and unlocked, at ESPN: https://t.co/HcW0hWxrpJ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 22, 2023
Yes, Caminero was hitting .309 with 20 home runs in Double-A.
However, let’s not forget what he did in High-A: he hit .356/.409/.685 with 11 home runs there.
It means that the young infielder (who is 20 years old) has had 31 round-trippers in the minors this season.
That’s some impact power right there, and it comes with incredible bat-to-ball skills that give him a solid batting average floor.
While he can play all over the infield (including shortstop), Caminero’s natural position is third base.
If he can produce like he has all year, the Rays will make sure to give him regular at-bats at all costs.
This is a phenomenal future asset who can actually help in the short-term.
That’s the Rays’ idea.
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